A 28-year-old kidnapped cab driver, Joseph David, has been rescued by the Cross River State Police Command, along Esuk Mba in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the rescue, adding that the victim’s vehicle was also recovered during the operation.
According to her, the rescue operation took place inside the forest of Esuk Mba by the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad, in partnership with Operation Akpakwu, following a distress call about the incident on Saturday.
She said the kidnappers abandoned their victim when the team was closing in on them.
The rescued driver told journalists that he was hired to take a passenger to Esuk Mba, without knowing that it was a setup.
Narrating what happened, David said, “I was actually set up with the pretence of going to carry oil palm at Esuk Mba by the same set of people who abducted me.
“On our way to Esuk Mba to carry the alleged product, the man who hired me suddenly asked me to stop at a spot.
“All of a sudden, two young men came out from a nearby bush with guns and marched me into a speed boat and took me into the creeks.
“They left the person who hired me from Calabar with my vehicle and the car didn’t start. In the process, some youth from the area suspected something was wrong.
“When he was accosted, he took off. That was when a call was placed to the tactical unit of the anti-kidnapping squad.
“I believe he gave his accomplices a tip off because they were receiving calls and they beat me up badly with cutlass.
“They dropped me off at Anantigha axis before the anti-kidnapping squad and Operation Akpakwu came to my rescue.”
In a similar development, a carpenter simply identified as Otobong, has been freed by his abductors after being held for five days.
He said he was freed after he gave them the N37,000 in his possession. He said they had lied to him about a job.
Narrating his ordeal, he said, “They called me with a number I don’t have and asked me to meet them at WAPI junction, that they have a job for me at State Housing.
“But before leaving, I called my wife to inform her. Unfortunately, her phone line didn’t connect. So I had to inform my daughter about my movement instead.
“However, on my way, I received another call from the same person that I should rather stop at Stadium, that they will pick me up from there, which they did.
“They were three in the car- a Toyota Camry. Since I didn’t suspect any foul play, I joined them.
“It was while they were driving me to their destination along the Highway that I lost consciousness. I didn’t know where I was anymore.
“They kept me in a room for five days; blindfolded and without food. Even the N37,000 I had with me to buy materials for another customer was collected.
“When they checked my account balance, they knew I was a wrong target because I didn’t have a kobo in it. They questioned me if I had money and I told them I was just a poor carpenter.”
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